Product Details

• Actors: Hallie Kate Eisenberg, Benjamin King, Kathy Baker, Frankie Faison, Amanda Detmer
• Directors: Kara Harshbarger
• Writers: Kara Harshbarger
• Producers: Gregory Dunigan, Karen P. Morris, Kimberly Rach, Lisa Dennis Kennedy
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Monarch Video
• VHS Release Date: April 29, 2003
• Run Time: 95 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00008DDUC
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #453,391 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Hallie Kate Eisenberg ... Abby Mills. Benjamin King ... Ed Mills. Kathy Baker ... Nancy. Frankie Faison ... Tom Donner (as Frankie R. Faison. Amanda Detmer ... Sarah Parker. Jared Padalecki ... Matt Nelson. Wayne Duvall ... Coach Steve. Jay Harrington ... Ryan McGillian. Sean Michael Arthur ... Mathews A 30 something auto mechanic in Columbus, Ohio is struggling to raise his 9 year old daughter several years after losing his wife in a car accident. A local legend for his baseball prowess he is struggling to tone down his macho ways to be both father and mother to his daughter. His daughter is everything to him and his sacrifice of a promising minor league career with the Yankee Triple A Columbus Clippers to be there for her shows his priorities are in order. A somewhat older next door spinster aching for love and family offers to provide the daughter with the lacking feminine touches. The contest between the father and the neighbor pit nice people against each other trying to help a 9 year old girl. The neighbor picks up the slack taking care of the daughter, giving dad another shot at baseball and slowly awakening to the interest of a pretty divorced mom who idolized him in high school. The slow evolution of father, daughter, neighbor supported by a small but significant cast and the script's warmth without wallowing make this movie work on several levels. Single parent, Ed Mills has raised his daughter Abby on what he knows best - baseball. But Abby's wants to try ballet and this creates a rift in their normally close relationship. To bring them back together, Ed will have to learn to let Abbey pursue her own dreams.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Little Inside, March 6, 2003

By 

Michael D Siebenaler (Bowling Green, OH United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Little Inside [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Adapted from a 14 minute short of the same name directed and written by Kara Harshbarger, A Little Inside provides solid drama and characters you really care about. Harshbarger also wrote and directed this full length feature starring Hallie Kate Eisenberg (Paulie, Beautiful) as Abby Mills who begins to seek more female influences due to the void in her single parent family. Her dad, Ed, played by Benjamin King, must deal with Abby's growing needs while mulling over an opportunity to play minor league baseball again after a five year absence and possibly make it to the major leagues.

The beginning scene captures the characters dynamics perfectly as Abby tries her best at her pee wee league baseball. "I can't hit at all," Abby says, "We lose because of me." Ed's over zealous next door neighbor Nancy, played by Kathy Baker (TVs Picket Fences, Cider House Rules), sees Abby's frustration and begins to take an increased interest in Abby by having her over for sleepovers and braiding her hair. Nancy creates an interesting dynamic in the Mills' household by providing help & hurt at the same time though she has good intentions. Eventually she encounters the same type of problems identifying with Abby that Ed has. "I don't know what to do when she's upset," Nancy says to Ed.

Ed's work as a mechanic keeps his life steady but when his new co-worker Matt, played by Jared Padalecki (TVs Gilmore Girls), recognizes Ed from his glory days as a minor league star, it lights a baseball fire that has been burning under Ed for a while. His number one priority, namely Abby, now seems to be a liability, even though he loves her very much.

Ed also seeks his former coach, Tom Donner, played by Frankie Faison (Down to Earth, Thomas Crown Affair) for some helpful advice. Coach Donner provides some solid support for Ed's impending comeback with dialogue like "Don't waste anytime trying to get those years back." You're led to assume he's a good coach even though you don't see him actually coaching or providing extraordinary guidance to other players. The assumption gains strength as Coach Donner offers Ed insightful tidbits regarding the "blind spot in his life" which becomes easy to see because of their simple lives and small town setting. Coach Donner has a functional role that could've been expanded, but the focus mainly stays on Ed and Abby.

Eisenberg and King have great family chemistry together especially during a scene when they're packing luggage. Their relationship anchors the movie as other characters act as supplements to their life story including the widely recognizable Amanda Detmer (Saving Silverman, The Majestic, Big Fat Liar) who plays Sarah Parker, a local single parent. All mentioned supporting characters see the struggle Ed and Abby must endure to continue their paths in life. It's a hard task especially when Ed has a chance to fulfill a lifelong dream and Abby longs to grow with her father while experiencing life from a more female perspective. This vital family dynamic also affects Abby's education at school and Ed's baseball career.

The crew and filmmakers make good use of the characters' traits in the story by using parallels and subtle drama to emotionally connect with the audience. For example, a beginning sequence where Abby can't find a team partner mirrors a sequence involving Ed's initial return to baseball. Filmmakers also insert a great sequence, interlaced with Abby's ballet practices and Ed's baseball activities, that shows how they're progressing personally in their interests, but drifting further away as a family. Essential background about Abby's mother (Ed's wife) also supports the well structured main characters.

Filmmakers make a few editing mistakes including a sequence where Abby's lips don't move, but you can still hear her talking as a car drives away from a bus and another sequence where Ed comes home after an important night game and you can see daylight outside.

You eventually see the characters' progress and how Ed and Abby changed their family dynamic to fill both of their needs (the scene where Ed joins in a girls' discussion works especially well). Ed and Abby realize they "can't both be in the spotlight" as Ed tries to understand Abby's feminine needs and Abby realizes the importance of their family baseball rituals like having an indoor carpet picnic while watching a major league baseball game. Baseball not only provides entertainment in this movie, it also represents a family tradition full of deep memories and background that helps anchor this family, especially apparent in the final sequence where Abby again plays pee wee baseball.

A very satisfying family movie filled of decent content and many acts of love, kindness and genuine care. This Toledo, Ohio-born reviewer also enjoyed the numerous references to the local minor league baseball team, the MudHens. Many of the baseball scenes were filmed at the actual locations due to producer Greg Dunigan's collaboration with Columbus Clippers general manager Ken Schnake. This 95 minute expansion of Harshbarger's original 14 minute short comes recommended and is rated PG for two minor expletives.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Family Movie, May 8, 2003

By 

K. Fleming (Sagamore Beach, Ma. United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Little Inside (DVD)

If you are looking for good family entertainment for the kids that adults can actually enjoy too, then this is the film for you! A rare treat in this day and age!

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Little Inside, March 6, 2003

By 

Michael D Siebenaler (Bowling Green, OH United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Little Inside (DVD)

Adapted from a 14 minute short of the same name directed and written by Kara Harshbarger, A Little Inside provides solid drama and characters you really care about. Harshbarger also wrote and directed this full length feature starring Hallie Kate Eisenberg (Paulie, Beautiful) as Abby Mills who begins to seek more female influences due to the void in her single parent family. Her dad, Ed, played by Benjamin King, must deal with Abbys growing needs while mulling over an opportunity to play minor league baseball again after a five year absence and possibly make it to the major leagues.

The beginning scene captures the characters dynamics perfectly as Abby tries her best at her pee wee league baseball. "I can't hit at all," Abby says, "We lose because of me." Eds over zealous next door neighbor Nancy, played by Kathy Baker (TVs Picket Fences, Cider House Rules), sees Abbys frustration and begins to take an increased interest in Abby by having her over for sleepovers and braiding her hair. Nancy creates an interesting dynamic in the Mills household by providing help & hurt at the same time though she has good intentions. Eventually she encounters the same type of problems identifying with Abby that Ed has. I dont know what to do when shes upset, Nancy says to Ed.

Eds work as a mechanic keeps his life steady but when his new co-worker Matt, played by Jared Padalecki (TVs Gilmore Girls), recognizes Ed from his glory days as a minor league star, it lights a baseball fire that has been burning under Ed for a while. His number one priority, namely Abby, now seems to be a liability, even though he loves her very much.

Ed also seeks his former coach, Tom Donner, played by Frankie Faison (Down to Earth, Thomas Crown Affair) for some helpful advice. Coach Donner provides some solid support for Eds impending comeback with dialogue like "Don't waste anytime trying to get those years back." Youre led to assume hes a good coach even though you dont see him actually coaching or providing extraordinary guidance to other players. The assumption gains strength as Coach Donner offers Ed insightful tidbits regarding the blind spot in his life which becomes easy to see because of their simple lives and small town setting. Coach Donner has a functional role that couldve been expanded, but the focus mainly stays on Ed and Abby.

Eisenberg and King have great family chemistry together especially during a scene when theyre packing luggage. Their relationship anchors the movie as other characters act as supplements to their life story including the widely recognizable Amanda Detmer (Saving Silverman, The Majestic, Big Fat Liar) who plays Sarah Parker, a local single parent. All mentioned supporting characters see the struggle Ed and Abby must endure to continue their paths in life. Its a hard task especially when Ed has a chance to fulfill a lifelong dream and Abby longs to grow with her father while experiencing life from a more female perspective. This vital family dynamic also affects Abbys education at school and Eds baseball career.

The crew and filmmakers make good use of the characters traits in the story by using parallels and subtle drama to emotionally connect with the audience. For example, a beginning sequence where Abby cant find a team partner mirrors a sequence involving Eds initial return to baseball. Filmmakers also insert a great sequence, interlaced with Abbys ballet practices and Eds baseball activities, that shows how theyre progressing personally in their interests, but drifting further away as a family. Essential background about Abbys mother (Eds wife) also supports the well structured main characters.

Filmmakers make a few editing mistakes including a sequence where Abbys lips dont move, but you can still hear her talking as a car drives away from a bus and another sequence where Ed comes home after an important night game and you can see daylight outside.

You eventually see the characters progress and how Ed and Abby changed their family dynamic to fill both of their needs (the scene where Ed joins in a girls discussion works especially well). Ed and Abby realize they cant both be in the spotlight as Ed tries to understand Abbys feminine needs and Abby realizes the importance of their family baseball rituals like having an indoor carpet picnic while watching a major league baseball game. Baseball not only provides entertainment in this movie, it also represents a family tradition full of deep memories and background that helps anchor this family, especially apparent in the final sequence where Abby again plays pee wee baseball.

A very satisfying family movie filled of decent content and many acts of love, kindness and genuine care. This Toledo, Ohio-born reviewer also enjoyed the numerous references to the local minor league baseball team, the MudHens. Many of the baseball scenes were filmed at the actual locations due to producer Greg Dunigans collaboration with Columbus Clippers general manager Ken Schnake. This 95 minute expansion of Harshbargers original 14 minute short comes recommended and is rated PG for two minor expletives.